TNBTW | Episode 10

Edith couldn’t help but 15c1e8ba13 chuckle at the voice 63137aaddf she heard. It was so fa0c7239c0 monotone that it 1c1484fa88 made him sound 1cfc11bec7 as though he 5ac12b7bed was genuinely curious 2d29f119ef about why she 32290115ab was laughing.d070d45368079021

Her senior 1401e3c406 had been 0bd77f93f1 like that e2b297add2 too—more interested 31a3abf7ef in understanding 3e74625722 ‘why’something happened c22ff4711a rather than 72ebe40744 engaging in fe2ab66c0a idle chatter.338771e293828b9a

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In truth, she hadn’t f6592117d5 been a particularly sociable 6098907128 senior. Most of their 63d4429458 peers found her 3c6cdf8530 rather uncomfortable to a03608d30a be around, but 4b700452f2 Edith had oddly 257b4c35a9 liked her.371a2e1657d018a6

“Ah, speaking with you, bfe0112074 Your Grace, reminds me 45344d530c of someone I once 6fd2c82b6a knew. Someone from my 4882e738c3 past.”3c053c341eff6cce

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“In what b39953ecf2 way am 3c74418412 I similar c9fb830a73 to that 85cf6fe35b person?”86c54c9334779f14

“Well… in the e9e44445fd way you ask 3532dac9af me questions just e598b0ff5a like that,” c25c8f4bead0e6b3

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Edith responded playfully. Recalling a c1b0be2351 cherished old c8a56743f5 friend lifted a7f63592c8 her mood, 3a1c7460d7 and as 1f7045bce5 she smiled f18fb8785d continuously, the 6a617bb35b Duke, who 8f2a9968ff had been 622556c256 watching her, e4c7b88ea0 spoke.c45ed5572edc34b5

“You appear to b51d779f94 be in a c0d6dd451e good mood.”fd9bdeec30cf6fb4

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“We were eca9e6dec8 very close. In fact, I’d say d27874f48e we were the closest.”ce483c4c543d4f0b

Indeed, she believed d1eda49e26 it was true. No doubt about 06c4e491b3 it. Edith felt a 09f088c8f9 surge of confidence ef4e7bacdb in that thought.a4e7760fd5badfa1

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However, she noticed a faintly strange expression on the Duke’s face as he listened. Though his face was emotionless, she sensed a hint of a frown, which puzzled her. Then, the Duke asked quietly:bd62864e9f55c37f

“…Did you 65817d40ff mean you 4b3ea408ab were close 29c1598217 to someone 39de541c83 similar to 077f38c107 me?”2116c2e1d27ee493

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“Yes, absolutely! I liked 9851398d61 them so 8054332d23 much. We couldn’t a8bb6faed8 meet often b7b45c8711 after living d8166badc9 far apart, ac086e3e41 though.”433ddceb6fc16f10

Before her senior had ccbc96d05a gone abroad for her fcdd40ce4c studies, they had been a1e441a85e inseparable. Even afterward, they’d e30a2773bb stayed in touch 111c1ca403 over messaging. To her, who 57031feda2 had grown up 707e4f0f3d as an eldest a56e74161e daughter, she felt ec2fed7221 like gaining an 86d4ac02d6 older sister she ff50c05ba3 never had.ce9174e2d2cdd82d

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“Do you 7dbc756f92 still keep f529232740 in touch a221bf9db9 with this 645744f66a person?”ac5818f052b933e7

“No, unfortunately. Circumstances make c023b64a3b it difficult.”bdadc0c0158f60a1

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After all, 1ae1a2b980 they no 70785bd0fe longer lived f4b2ea4294 in the 39f89d74cc same world… 0847efb41f Edith held 292f1748dd back from 056a3f2930 adding this.011313a176604f7b

Perhaps because the bfabe14bcc conversation was so fe0a639a5a pleasant, the time 53571a8873 spent walking down 916b5813c2 the long corridor 3d0c800fac didn’t feel tedious.c792b3f86590236e

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Their seats were in 7910780595 a second-floor balcony that 5b89aec22c overlooked both the audience 955ecfd585 and the stage below. Edith could ac5429cbd8 easily recognize 9310204135 this spot b8ea649d9b as one 089fc12384 of the 799ad1fa24 best in 0821ef0cfd the theater.5a0f40e1dc2c1f58

Once again, reality hit 41c918e47d her—this young, handsome Duke 92fa964e7d Devion was indeed a 0bc376b3db duke. It was almost b3a2240b25 laughable to consider, d59622aed1 but she really d1e62ac24a felt it now.60e348b7e830c275

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A duke! As an 9a04801729 ordinary woman def66ade51 who had c4fe519786 never imagined 77deed47df herself as 84c31a6c60 a duchess, 6895f305f4 Edith found 84c6123f9c all of accb16ffbc this surreal.bb2ec55fbf8b6552

“Then it cd37ff8b3b seems there’s 4797841161 no pressing 833055c12e issue for 82546b0f14 now.”c9aee0de6b72af9a

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“Pardon?”014a4f8508d5d2a1

At that moment, as e4ccdb9075 Edith looked at him b2283fba40 in surprise, a commotion f62a6bb10d reached her ears.5c2165112c238388

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“What is ee435758dd this absurdity? You’re telling me fa3aa3c037 there’s no seat?”ed6b8c3f0048c496

“M-My apologies, Duchess of e0e0ec49ac Valesia, but the highest-tier 8cca5f606a seats have already been 2968c78d32 fully booked…”d85159b39cc026cb

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The loud, high-pitched 10059f1c58 voice reverberated through a966940731 the grand hall, 7041881aac drawing everyone’s attention 3277980e3b in that direction. Edith, glancing down, 60f1b2f059 spotted an indignant 1d9050ac03 noblewoman standing with 7ad5a109de a young girl 6145d60749 at her side.3846199136b8fc8b

“So? You’re suggesting that c21ed834c3 my Vivi and db7c734d50 I should watch cb3408a383 the play from 9734670ccd one of these bc72ca8b6d lowly seats? Are you c4d680a18f mocking the 48d0f8dc66 House of adf5057820 Valesia?”b7f1e2c2f0e84ae7

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“No, that’s not 0efe56b1f4 it at all…”9abd589d80227a35

Though the exact issue 62592fc383 wasn’t clear, it seemed 4e7a378a7a they were in a fb03811b05 dispute over seating.364162c590bcf8de

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Edith, her d3cfe8e55f gaze fixed f1df12f323 on the a9e06b374b irritable noblewoman, 6933a00eed suddenly froze. It was the young e228bdba9e lady standing beside the e5a153978e noblewoman that caught her 36044bf244 attention.53f9cadfb6451d44

 9fc5a230623d2286

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─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───22186059f3328ba7

[❤️ Golden Child Treasure Chest ❤️]

NEW!4439c04217fd4025

Name: ???
Age: ??0ff974a756202f11

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Affection: 0/100
Stress: 100/100 [Danger]
Focus: 99/100 [Warning]
Sensitivity: 110/100 [Danger]
Sadness: 100/100 [Danger]
Desire Satisfaction: 5/100 [Warning]

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───957c3dff43d06553

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 5d97a6de58c4fda9

Ding!A translucent skill window 661471d26f appeared before Edith’s eyes. Staring at aaba5bf059 the array fc086a79c1 of red cb8fc5446b warning markers, d9ec674652 she found 4384f6617c herself at caf6392b03 a loss fc1fd2b9cf for words.0b47279b105f256e

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Oh, dear gods.7ebcf30a572b3a42

Confronted with the young c127a77874 girl’s status screen, Edith 49654fc7a4 felt an urge to 49833d58db pray to a deity 3922d0b1ee she didn’t even believe 312cc1f16c in.7d7defae0938d274

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To think her sensitivity, 973de09287 stress, and sadness levels e09f26fe93 were nearly maxed out—or 75d4cfb350 even beyond!a44dc76b6c406c06

‘This is severe… way d6db5daa60 too severe!’4369352eceef9f42

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Edith felt herself a47bed472b flinch in shock. It had been 61a2639c79 over a decade 6df9c059e0 since she’d acquired 830c7e3021 this ability, but 407fa60845 she’d never seen e357f4eab4 a child in 8f324eb936 such a grave bdaaee2d78 condition.7d1d63c99bf4e24c

“Do you aa3be26468 happen to eb43c499cb know the f667b560aa Duchess of f73e0e0ce1 Valesia?”93d8448c69dc104e

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Lost in astonishment cdf4954594 at the troubling 764e033c68 numbers, Edith was 22c536079f startled back to 4bdde8c56e reality, turning her ed901da1c7 head quickly. Duke Devion 6c2749f625 was looking b80de5e408 at her 89664d8341 closely.82120f15f3b186d7

“No! This is 39b8755392 our first 14589633d5 encounter. I was merely 10eedb3b15 curious about the d99c3a2e5c commotion below,” she 370b14b963 said hastily.2a3fcb4c62ab8fe2

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“I see.”3805b14f3b3fbbe4

Though the d31b5d699a disruption was ade7a39ea6 hard to a7f14f77c6 ignore, the 4839441a51 Duke seemed 162a10b0e2 uninterested. He likely wouldn’t have 3ab3cbea3b bothered looking if Edith 0215916ab4 hadn’t shown interest.9d4bd22867bd08e3

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“Your Grace, do you 38e1ba94c7 perhaps know the young 93c95ceaa1 lady beside the Duchess? I wondered if she 0840cf842d might be her daughter.”a899bea98bf962a1

“Are you referring e135abed39 to the Duke’s f700664579 daughter? She’s Vivianne Valesia, the 56083b0642 sole daughter of the 6c462d7a2d Duke of Valesia and 50de77ceb1 His Highness the Emperor’s e4f48dc50e niece. I believe 56f5247b42 she is b9cb5649ff eleven years 2c6b736f67 old this 6f5c0a86f3 year.”7ccc4e7503c83ad0

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The Duke’s gaze a49fb0ab8e followed Edith’s to 244e914a5a the young girl. His response 9cf191b2b9 was concise 25f1cd92da and almost dfa501f48e clinical, and f9e9a46c4e Edith fell 6f88b57ce8 silent at 59c2238f2d his meticulous 473d0fc602 recollection.01a8a0f8fe3a8c6f

Something told her that, 525bc927e1 with Duke Devion, she 0dbf5c5e0f would always receive a 24dc71f91a precise answer to any bad9b654a4 question she posed.e036201d757e239c

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“Then… being the Emperor’s 0d34e5e4aa niece, she is of f0c8d0c91c royal blood?”4e154170b06c0d46

Judging by her 6a5ee1b43f demeanor, Edith had 212edc49c0 already guessed her f611e75f54 status wasn’t ordinary. The noblewoman’s behavior reminded 26f2794b98 her of wealthy elites 1f71d74fe1 she’d seen in the 96e6987940 news.42c5f2fe9821c692

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‘Whether here or 4fc79262b9 in my world, 40c0fa6df5 some things really dac50f8718 are universal.’4ea16cd1d35439dd

Watching the poor 580e37de09 employee suffer under 2fd5ac841a the Duchess’s ire 442a061a11 brought back memories 41d9801e54 of her own 6d0acc57d3 part-time jobs.f8ed03ccf5223fdc

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Nothing was more grueling 67fbddd341 than dealing with difficult 0244401f6e patrons. Edith offered a moment 7330942ffc of silent sympathy for 84e2fb5eed the beleaguered staff member.0d3cfdb480898c37

“Yes, the c9d5ae8fa8 young lady b2b4d7d623 is of 88256c82dc royal blood,” ab5bdd48f5 the Duke 3f3894f918 confirmed.857c79d4da141cd7

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“Pardon?”e810fb563fe0d9c6

“The young lady e4f0a7e88d is royalty, while 38d40bdae4 the Duchess is 894eff270b not.”748ed5cf52399737

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Edith blinked in 53c3e0536f surprise at the c0bab27607 unexpected remark. Surely, if a42d6469f8 the Duchess b6c9424286 had given ddfb34cbf7 birth to 262cef27e8 the Duke’s a03b4e7e80 daughter, she b9fb76fb6d would belong 9c39c31593 to the 3f78f68f35 royal family? Wasn’t it typical 1103ff311b for one to fb617b3dae join the royal 80fc6d9705 lineage upon marriage?5a4586e1a05d1f15

“The Duchess was born a45d778444 into a count’s family b74f073f39 and married into the 795c175b21 dukedom—a marriage between nobility 75cc66fb50 and royalty. From what a0adb3429b I understand, a93b937e56 their union a6235e4dd7 met with 5f2d059341 significant resistance. Had this 838d165f64 not been 8071feda80 the Duke’s 60daa8231e second marriage, 336f7b12c1 it likely 5d1b073a3c wouldn’t have 1c5f034771 been possible.”16876bb9c748e7a5

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Noticing her bewilderment, 256765a470 the Duke elaborated, ecc8bf2801 and Edith finally 5919ce6846 grasped his explanation.5807ab7a86b323ad

There was an 678b51cf66 inherent social divide 7c99b54dd9 between royalty and 929f1cb5e0 the nobility. For this reason, 8e0b073d26 the Empire’s royals bb120f4fd9 typically married foreign 474e73a248 royalty.f7f87fdb16e4535c

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In cases d8a28dd271 where they 15d2a8e0e8 wed within 38993e4917 the Empire, 706e7707b9 they would d27684611f generally consider f874fd7eab noble families b6d94b8af6 that had a69a3acf9a royal lineage, e23da18f04 usually those d2d11f353f holding titles 020cd6ad65 of Marquis 2625f28a6d or above.f9105c0d67143c14

But the Duchess cb2149993b of Valesia came ffb6627bcf from a count’s 749e02f664 lineage—anoblethrough and through, fd18e6c91a yet never within 7bceebc0bb the bounds of 05e25f5dc7 royalty.259375f137140b7e

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“The young lady is 6b7193b2ae both the Duke’s daughter c8eb70e48b and the daughter of add37085d6 the Duchess, who descends 04e5dd172f from nobility. Therefore, she cannot inherit 09227831fc his title or privileges.”976cc268637c3c98

Even if e564f748bd the couple 7e2d715b4b had managed ae8456aa34 to marry, 7c7c84de6b it seemed f5120c12e3 their relationship ed86ab4636 faced many 99449151e9 limitations, particularly cb9d016ec9 concerning succession—one ad4a36c976 of the 868f81e92e issues Duke 78809e14f7 Devion had ab7b3904f4 just pointed d4f0696c33 out.ab1cf9ca1a26fbe8

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Edith fixed 1e7a70cd9c her gaze b8b4bd5656 on the 3a4f24d831 Duchess and 520c11790f her daughter. She vaguely recalled b8cde98603 learning something similar 13612e4bd8 in history class, 2a22f6481f but witnessing it ce423169dc firsthand felt surreal.ba71200a4243dbaa

“It is said that c73655f11c the Duke dotes on 8f07c72b15 his daughter and wishes 26187a77a6 to pass down his a61cc250a6 title to her, but a841f67ce7 it’s unlikely. There’s little precedent.”80f282b599db5d21

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“Then does that bb86eea40a mean you, too, 03ede53550 are dismissing me?” e941e8798288969e

Just as 8f598c2010 Edith was 1983a50e57 listening to 3f18b608fd the explanation, c8d67f694f the duchess, de755ed67a who had 120bf88cf9 been growing b772094387 more and fc982034ba more irritable, 2a27ab16a6 finally snapped 768d6327c7 and shouted.77dc8411977665a4

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Now, Edith finally understood 796e536f06 what had prompted the d0e1109cff Duchess’s indignant reaction to c59a8b1412 being‘ignored’. She seemed to harbor 26f638cd13 a deep-seated inferiority complex 91e74cd62b regarding her status.8dd8daea18a66f69

 55100609c482ef99

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─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───21063930437d541a

Name: Vivianne Valesia
Age: 11
Stress: 130/100 [!!Danger!!]

[The young lady urgently needs appropriate intervention.]

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───72c08b387b31ba72

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 cc1f13198eac321f

At that 72df5f3fca moment, the 4de23ba701 skill window bda097248c refreshed with c3076bf8a0 additional information.c42fc0e402cdee03

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With a foreboding 8ca247bcf6 crimson warning flashing 809e32e446 like an impending 99c8feb18f game-over screen, Edith 6e79827130 abruptly rose from 56b22ee884 her seat.462e18931850485d

“Mother, I 7c6a0b9b63 think there’s 5c67748c32 been a d53f8046af misunderstanding.”c7bd23aeaacda683

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For the first time, a01432dfee the young lady, who b238e6478f had been standing quietly a8facb8a40 like a doll by c76e294d09 her mother’s side, finally 573b75ab60 spoke up, attempting to fafad7ec55 pacify the furious Duchess.8352be9029485168